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Topic: does anyone brew two batches at the same time? (Read 4045 times)

I'll sometimes brew a big beer (long mash and long boil) and a starter at the same time. I've already got the time I'm putting in on the big beer, so no problem. It is a long day with or without the second beer.

I'll sometimes brew a big beer (long mash and long boil) and a starter at the same time. I've already got the time I'm putting in on the big beer, so no problem. It is a long day with or without the second beer.

Fred

you CAN make good BIG beers without boiling for 8 hours, you know

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The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

If I were trying to up production, I'd go with a bigger wort-production system, but then split up the ferment. Different yeast, ferm. temps, dry hopppng, dry herbing, oaking, etc. You'll get different beers (and probably some fascinating comparisons), without stressing on brew day.

I did this once with two 5 gallon extract recipes. One of the batches was more complicated because I started with 8 gallons of sweetwater (maple sap) and boiled it down to about 4 gallons. I had a helper (a newbie) and STILL I screwed up the DME addition schedule for the other batch. Both beers turned out fine, but I thought this two-at-once process was just too much to keep track of at one time. I don't think I'd try it again.However I know somebody who boils an extract batch while he's mashing his AG batch. Maybe there's some logic to that.-MTB

I also do parti-gyle batches for my big brews. First runnings for the big beer. Second runnings for the small beer. If you have a 2nd boil kettle you can have the second runnings boiling within 15 minutes of the first.

I have done two in one day with my equipment (2 burners and more than one MT) while helping my neighbor learn to brew. We did a 12 gallon batch and a 10 gallon simple pale ale for him, staggering the steps so that when my boil was starting his sparge was going. It was hectic, but mainly because it was an unplanned second batch. I have also collected second runnings and made 5 gallons of small beer following a 10 gallon batch of stronger beer on more than one occasion. I am not usually pleased with the small beer, but second runnings are also a good way to get a batch of starters out of the way.

in what ways? I was thinking of partigyling my barleywine at the end of the year, throwing a few more pounds of basemalt and half pound of crystal to brew an ESB of sorts with the seconds - please explain further. perhaps another thread is in order as to not hijack this one...

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The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

I often do multiple batches with multiple tuns. An even easier method is to split the wort and do separate boils to end up with two different beers. Another fun thing is to water one down post boil to end up with a stronger beer and a lower abv beer. Think IPA and PA, Alt and Sticke, etc.

I've done 2 batches in one day several times, but it's a ton of fun/work. The last time I did it I brewed 10 gallons of Bohemian Pils and 15 gallons of brown ale split into 3 buckets with different yeasts.